PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico softball earned its first shutout of the season Saturday afternoon. The Greyhounds beat Southern Nazarene, 7-0, behind a solid performance from Brook Leger. In the latter part of the evening, the Hounds battled with No. 22 Washburn in a tight 7-4 decision going in the Ichabods favor.

Game 1
The first two innings proved to be the difference maker offensively for the Hounds against SNU. They got the scoring party started off an Alondra Vasquez single to send Jennifer Gress home and Azalea Martinez to third.

A sacrifice bunt helped ENMU push the score 2-0 just one batter later.

In the second, a Gress single drove in Madison Begaye and a three-run jack from Vasquez gave Eastern a 6-0 advantage.

"I felt great at the plate and saw it well," said Vasquez when asked about her homerun. "I knew if she threw it in my zone I would hit it hard. I am so happy we were battling all day for each other."

Brook Leger held great control throughout the contest as she dished out five strikeouts and she forced ten flyouts over seven innings of work.

"Brook was very composed and handled a strong SNU offense in game one," said head coach Amanda Fefel. "It's always good to see the team competing on both sides of the ball."

Southern Nazarene left five runners on base over the first four innings of the game and in the final three they did not get a single runner on base.

Mikenzey Patterson scored an insurance run as Jokaira Paredes doubled to centerfield in the fourth inning.

"We have a lot of depth across our offense and defense and it's good to look at the bench and see the unity we have. This team will fight until the last out and I am proud of that."

Game 2
Early on the game looked to be in No. 22 Washburn's favor as they held a 4-0 lead after the second inning. However, the Greyhounds began a rally.

A costly error by Washburn earned Madison Begaye a spot at first. Next up to the plate was Jennifer Gress who connected on a nice pitch at the plate sending it to left center. This left both runners in scoring position.

Azalea Martinez joined the double soiree with shot down the left field line giving the Greyhounds two runs. Vasquez continued her solid day at the plate with a single to put runners on the corners.

The Ichabods changed pitchers in the circle and immediately the Hounds advanced runners with a wild pitch and scoring the third run of the half inning. WU did not let the Eastern comeback continue as the next three batters went down via a ground out, strikeout, and lineout.

Washburn added a fifth run in the following half inning and two more in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mackenzie Shaw hit a powerful double to right center, which scored Jennifer Gress and got the game within 7-4. The ideal start to the inning was not capitalized on as ENMU left two runners on base.

With two outs remaining in the bottom of the seventh, the Greyhounds looked for one final opportunity to strike back at WU. Martinez and Shaw hit singles and that positioned runners at the corners. A crucial bobble on the following play forced the Ichabod's shortstop to try and catch a potential Greyhound score at the plate and she threw her out just in time for the tag.

"Both days have been nothing short of a grind," said head coach Amanda Fefel after the game. "We have played top notch competition and have been able to see their grind at the plate and on defense."

The game ended with a Washburn strikeout and the Greyhounds now look towards tomorrow for a contest with University of Colorado – Colorado Springs.